Obits

Stories

There’s nothing that our son Jamie and young adult grandchildren Kenny and Megan like to do more than cook dinner.
First, one of them cuts up potatoes and gets them cooking (I think probably frying). The other two check out the refrigerator to see what leftovers are available.
They probably check out the pantry, too.
Anyway, they mix everything together to make a delicious meal. I think they mostly enjoy the challenge of making a meal from what’s on hand.

Now that 2012 is behind them, 4-H members are enrolling for the 2013 year. In order to help both new and “old” 4-H members learn more about
4-H and the opportunities that are available to them through the Moffat County 4-H program, the Extension Office in Craig is having an Open House from 5 to 7 p.m. Dec. 5 at the Extension Office, 539 Barclay St.
Activities at the open house will include: meeting 4-H leaders and project leaders; project and program information; enrollment; rules and regulations; expectations; and meeting 4-H Council members, Junior Leaders, and office staff. There will be still more activities and refreshments, too.
This week’s story is Part II of the many awards and recognitions from Achievement Night, hosted Nov. 14 at the Moffat County Fairgrounds Pavilion.

Readers send me stories and ideas for the column. Sometimes they are so good they deserve retellin’ in their own words. This is Barry’s tale about a “real cowboy,” named Otis.
Otis wore his long-sleeved shirt and long-handled underwear winter and summer. It worked like a thermos, he claimed; cold in the summer and warm in the winter. His old Blanchard spurs left tracks in the dirt when he walked because the heels were so wore down on his boots.
Otis showed up at Barry’s place one morning to help him gather a cow and calf that had been missed. Otis is a real ol’ timer, a typical Arizona no-nonsense cowboy.
“Is that a new horse?” asked Barry.

The Colorado Northwestern Community College Four Wheelers Club has just finished up its first year as a club, and for its first year, the group has been conquering more than tough trails.
The club was started last December, and Jeffrey Wallmann, interim automotive director and instructor and student advisor to the club, said the non-profit group supports public land usage and education about the issue to community members.

The lack of snow and visitors to ski resorts this warm early season has left ski resort employees facing hard times.
Aspen Skiing Co. is helping by picking up dinner for its workers.
The company has revived an effort to help ski workers during dry seasons, The Aspen Times reported Thursday (http://bit.ly/X5aTB1 ).

A city park has been renamed in memory of a 10-year-old Colorado girl who was abducted and killed last month.
The Denver Post reported Thursday (http://tinyurl.com/d2rf9yq ) the Westminster City Council voted to change the name of Chelsea Park to Jessica Ridgeway Memorial Park. Jessica lived in Westminster.
City officials say the old park sign has been removed and will be replaced in about two weeks.

One of the three remaining fugitives in a string of high-profile fires across the West that focused national attention on a group of environmental radicals surrendered to authorities Thursday after spending years in hiding in Canada.
The U.S. attorney's office in Portland, Ore., said Rebecca Jeanette Rubin, 39, a Canadian citizen, turned herself in to the FBI at the Canadian border in Blaine, Wash.
Rubin was arrested after spending a decade as an international fugitive from the largest ecoterrorism investigation in U.S. history, the U.S. attorney's office said. The former wildlife researcher was part of a cell of the Earth Liberation Front and Animal Liberation Front known as The Family, based in Eugene, Ore.
Rubin was sought on conspiracy and arson indictments dating to 2006 alleging she helped set fires at the Vail ski resort in Colorado and at federal wild horse corrals in Eastern Oregon and Northern California, and that she tried to set fire to a lumber mill office in Medford, Ore.

The Ridgeview Elementary School gym was filled with angelic little voices Thursday afternoon as first, second and third graders took turns performing their favorite songs during a school concert for their peers.
The concert, “Our Favorite Songs,” featured a variety of songs, from patriotic, western themed, songs about animals and a crowd pleaser, “the little skunk hole.”

Entering the district tournament, Drew Morris likes where his team is.
The Craig Middle School eighth grade boys basketball coach was pleased with what he saw in the second half of a 34-18 over Meeker at CMS Tuesday evening and hopes to see it translate into more success this weekend. The Bulldogs will try to live up to their No. 1 seed at the district tournament in Rangely.
The A-team’s victory over Meeker didn’t look as certain in the first half. The Bulldogs were outplayed in the second quarter by the Cowboys and went into the intermission with just a 14-12 lead.

Also passes water, wastewater rate increases

The Craig City Council approved Tuesday its final version of the 2013 budget, which is up across nearly all funds when compared to this year.
The general fund is increasing by six percent, or $635,705, over 2012. The city’s utility funds — water, wastewater and solid waste — also are increasing in 2013 by 48, 87 and 11 percent, respectively.
The All Crimes Enforcement Team and the medical benefits funds are the only two experiencing reductions in 2013.
But Craig City Manager Jim Ferree said it’s difficult to explain why funds are increasing next year considering the economy has not yet recovered.

A Moffat County High School student got a once-in-a-lifetime hunting opportunity and made the most of it.
Molly Nations, 17, drew a bull moose tag in just her fifth year putting in for tag. The 1-in-14,000 chance fell in Nations’ favor, though, and she got the most difficult tag to get a hold of in Colorado.
“For most people it takes about 20 to 25 years,” Nations said of getting a bull tag. “So I got really lucky. Everyone that I talked to said they’ve put in more years than I’ve been alive.”

December 4 at midnight will mark the start of Colorado Gives Day.
The opportunity for Coloradoans to, “give where you live,” by making online donations to the non-profits of their choice.
Over a 24-hour period, people will be able to make online donations to hundreds of charities on the Community First Foundation’s online giving site, GivingFirst.org.
According to the group’s web site, the goal of Colorado Gives Day is to increase philanthropy in Colorado through online giving.

When I was nine, a Sunday school teacher shocked and alarmed me.
I sat on my miniature chair, gazed up at her wobbling chins, and listened with growing panic as she described a heaven in which all my ancestors could look down and watch everything I did. Every day.
Horrors! Plucky Great Great Grandmother Simmons, who crossed the plains with the Utah pioneers, saw me stomp from the room and slam the screen door when told to go get the mail?
Grandpa Hall knew I lied when I swore I hadn’t run through the tomato patch, leaving broken plants behind? And cousin Eula knew I routinely swallowed my gum even after Carolyn warned me that eventually a big wad of undigested gum would plug up my stomach, and I’d never eat again?

Locals urged to use caution when online shopping this holiday season

The holidays are a time of giving thanks.
And many people across the country express their appreciation by exchanging gifts with family and friends.
But because technology has driven so much holiday business online it’s not uncommon for modern shoppers to face a veritable gauntlet of Internet scams.
On Monday the Craig Police Department, in partnership with numerous state and federal agencies, issued a news release asking local residents to be extra cognizant this holiday season of the “12 scams of Christmas.”